Agriculture Dept Seeks Schools For Georgia Grown Test Kitchen Program
The Georgia Department of Agriculture is looking for ten schools to participate in a new initiative designed to get locally grown produce and other products into school cafeterias.
On Monday, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black announced a new initiative called, the “Georgia Grown Test Kitchen.”
School nominations are now being taken online at Georgiagrown.com through May 9.
The new program will promote local and healthy eating in schools across the state through supplying school nutrition directors with healthy recipes using Georgia Grown commodities.
It is hoped the Georgia Grown Test Kitchen, along with the Feed My School for a Week Program, will help bridge the gap in the nutritional value and quality of food served in Georgia schools, while providing more farm- to- cafeteria opportunities.
“Through programs such as the Georgia Grown Test Kitchen and Feed My School for a Week, we are influencing the buying habits of nutritional directors across the state,” said Commissioner Black. “We are showing the ease that comes with purchasing local products for school systems, while improving the nutritional value for students.”
Ten schools across the state will be selected to taste test recipes using Georgia Grown Commodities. These recipes will contain information on how to source the product, nutritional information and the students’ opinions on the recipes. The selected schools will also participate in other Georgia Grown activities throughout the year.
Applications were released today and will be due on May 9, 2014. If you are interested in nominating your school for the program, please have your nutritional director contact Misty Friedman at [email protected]